I found a death certificate for Joseph Emsley Plummer, b abt 17 Oct 1869 Ellis Co TX, d 27 Jan 1941 Waxahachie, Ellis Co, Texas. His parents were listed as Joseph Plummer (b MO) and Susan Chapman (b MO). He was listed as a hardware merchant.

He is also found on the 1900 US census in Hardeman Co, TX, with an older brother Phillip (b May 1868 MO).

The J E Plummer found in Refugio Co (and wife Mary) are b TN, and have neither of these boys in their household on the 1870 census.